Acetylene-gas lamp



(No Modell.)

C; W. BECK. v AGETYLENE GAS LAMP. No. 590,955. VPatentd'Octl 5,1897u UNITED d STATES PATENT @Trient CHARLES w. BECK, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AoI-:TYLENE-GAS LAMP. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,955, dated October 5, 1897. Application filed September 14, 1896.? SerialNo. 605,723` (No modeL) the present instance consisting of a bicycle lamp.

Amon g the objects of the invention are to provide a construction in which the liquid is supplied to the carbid by means of a forced feed, or,M in other words, by pressure produced by mechanical means, which may vbe,

regulated to afford any desired degree of pressure within reasonable limits, in which the supply of liquid fed to the carbid may-bc checked or arrested altogether at anytime, and in which said supplyis positively-cutoff simultaneously with the shutting off of the burner. v

The invention consists in the matters her`einaft-er described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andthe same may be more readily understood :by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an axial sectional view of a lamp embodying my invention, the headlight or reiiector being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the truncated end of the burner-valve plug and the conformation of the actuating-.rod connected therewith.

It is to be understood that my present invent-ion is capable of embodimentin different forms and that the construction shown herein, whereinthe pressure through the medium of which the feed of liquid to the carbid is effected is produced by the action of a spring and feed-screw, is but one. form, and that a comparatively simple one, selected from many possible prototypes. In other words, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the employment of either spring or screw pressure or a combination of the two for effecting the feed, but may employ other mechanical ineans--as, for instance, a gas or air pump-for producing pressure for carrying out this feature of the invention. The construction shown herein is, however, deemed the best embodiment of the invention now known to me.

Referring to said drawings, A designates as a whole a reflector or headlighn'which may be of any suitable-construction. B designates as a whole the lamp-body, which is generally of cylindric form and is closed at each endv by means of screw-caps B B2, show n in the present instance as of the full diameter "of the end of the cylinder and threaded directly to the end margins of the cylinder. The headlight is shown as bolted directly to the upper surface of the upper Iend cap, and the burner-nozzle C, which is shown'asmade integral with said cap, is arranged to rise centrally therefrom and to pro ject at-its top end through a suitable opening in the lower side of the reflector, so as to bring the jet approximately in the focus of thefreiector.

i 'Inorder toaflord aperfect gas-tightunion between the cap and' the body of the lamp, said cap is shown as provided with an internal depending flange I), threaded to fit within the correspondingly-threaded end of 4:the cylinder and with an overhanging flange b', which depends outside of the said end margin. Between the two iian ges is arranged a gasket b2, made of lead or other soft yielding material, which is compressed between the 'screw-cap and the marginal end of the cylinder. The lower end cap, which, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, is not subject to internal gas-pressure, is shown as simply threaded to iit upon the lower end of the cylindric body, as indicated at b3. The interior of the body is divided by means of a horizontal diaphragm or partition b4 into two compartments D and E, the upper one of which is designed to contain the chargeof calcio carbid and serve as a gas-generating chamber and the Y' lower one of WhiclrisA adapted to contain the supply of liquid and' the movable piston F, by means of which" the liquid is forced from the lower chamber to The piston F is provided with the usual cup-leather f, arranged to prevent the ow of water downwardly past the cylinder into the lower end of the lower chamber and is.v also provided with an axially-arranged stem or guide-rod F', arranged to extend through the piston at its upper end and rigidly secured to the latter conveniently by means of nuts fffi, threaded thereon Vat opposite sides of the piston. The stem is arranged to extend at its lower end axially through a hollow screw-plug G, for convenience hereinafter termed the feed-screw, which feedscrew is externally threaded and arranged to work through acorrespondingly-threaded aperture f 6 in the center ofthe lower end cap-.

In order to afford a continuous and yield-- ing pressure of the piston against the liquid,- a coiled spring H is shown as interposed between the inner end of the feed-screw and the approximate side of the piston, the eX- pansive capacity of said spring being. suc-has to cause it to move the piston a considerable distance after it has been compressed withoutfurther movement of the feed-screw.

The piston is shown as provided with a filling-.aperture f3, through which lthe liquid may be introduced and which is normally closed by a screw-plug F2. y

The burner-nozzle is provided with a valveplug C, by means of which the burner may be closed, and in order that the supplyof liquid to the carbid may be shut off simul-A taneously with the closing of the burner means are provided as follows: The central part of the burner-nozzle is enlarged at that point through which the valve-plug is inserted and the gas-duct c is deiiected to one side of the axis of said nozzle, as shown clearly in the drawings. The smaller end of the valve-plug terminates at a point within said enlargement and is cut off or truncated at right angles to the axis of the plug, said plug being held to its seat and supportedat its said smaller end by means of a screw c', inserted through the opposite side wall ofthe' burner and threaded axially within the end of the valve-plug.

The part of the burner-nozzle within which the end of the valve-plugterminates is-re cessed, as indicated at c2, and upon the end of the valve-plug, located eccentricall y of the axis thereof, is mounted a wrist or stud c3, (see detail Fig. 2,) with which is connected the upper end of theactuating-rod I, which extends downwardly through the carbid-chamber and projects at its lower end within a` small cylindr'ic valve-chamiber J, which snrrounds and incloses the inlet-apertureb5. In order to provide for the circular travel of the stud c3 without oscillating theactuatinfg-rod laterally, said rod is shown as provided -with' a transverse slot c, within which the stud plays, and also with a vertical arm t', between which and the side of theactuating-rod thei screw c is embraced, this constructiongobviou sl y insurin ga direct vertical reciprocation.

The valve-'chamber isclo'sed at its upper end by Ameans of a screw-capj, through which "thel i actuating-rod passes, and the cylindric side walls-of said chamber are provided with a plurality of aperturesj", through which the liquid may escape from the valve-chamber to the carbid. Upon the end of the actuating-rod within the valve-chamber is mounted aconical valve I', which is adapted to be forced into engagement with the valve-seat formed around the margin of the inlet-aperture h5.

In'asmuch as the upper screw-cap carrying the burner-nozzle must be removed in order to charge the carbid into its receptacle, it is obviously necessary that the actuating-rod be-"disconnectedat the same point, and this is-conveniently accomplished by making the rod in two sections, which are united by a screw-threaded connection z", arranged axially of the screw-cap, so that the actuatingrod may be disconnected and rengagedsimultaneously with the unscrewingand replacing .of the cap, respective-ly. In ord-er to hold the upper section of the actuating-.rod

in proper engagement with .the stud .upon the l end of the valve-plug, a spiralspring c5 is shown as interposed between the outer surface of the upper end of said arm and the opposing inner wall of the recess c2 and surrounding the screw c.

In orderto prevent the entrance of pulverized carbid into thevalve-chamber through the apertures j', a wrappingjz, of porous material-as,- for instance, felt-is shown as surrounding the exterior of the chamber below the cap thereof. In order to filter the gas and prevent the passage of supercharged hydrous gas to the burner, a diaphragm of porous material-such, for instance, as feltis shown as arranged within the upper part of the carbid-chamber, said filter beingconveniently held in place by means of an expansive ring K, sprungwithin the inne-r dependingflange b of the cap.

The operation of the lampr thus described will be obvious, but may be briefly outlined as follows'. The end closing-caps havingbeen removed and suitable charges of carbid and liquid placed in their respective compartments, the caps are returned to place and the feed-screw turned inward until the coiled springis compressed sufficiently to exert a considerable pressure upon the piston. If now the burner be opened, the cut-off valve will be raised simultaneously with the openingof the burner-outlet, and the liquid acted upon bythe piston will be forced upwardly into the valve-chamber, and then-ce through the loutlets-therein to the carbid. Gas will immediately begin to :generate and issue from the jet-nozzle, being filtered in its passage to the latter by meansof the porousdiaphragm.

Sho-nldfit be'desi-red to increase the rate -of generation, this may be effected by simply turning the feed-screw inward, so as to increase theV4 pressure' exerted by the spring. On theco-ntrary, should it -be desired to lessen the rate of generation yor even to interrupt it entirely this will be accomplished by simply IOO IIO

IIS

turning the feed-screw in the opposite direction, whereupon the pressure upon the Vliquid will be lessened or may be entirely relieved. Obviously as soon as the feed-screw is turned outwardly, so that the spring no longer exerts pressure upon the piston, the feed of the liquid to the carbid will be interrupted. lV hen the burner is closed, the movement of the valve-plug in closing the burner will simultaneously force the valve downward upon its seat, and thereby shut off the supply of liquid and thus arrest the generation of gas.

I claim as my invention-- l. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a compartment for carbid, a liquid-compartment having communication with the carbid-compartment, a spring, means for tensioning the spring and means for transmitting to the liquid the mechanical pressure of the spring for effecting a feed of the liquid to the carbid.

2. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, thecombination of a compartment for carbid, a liquid-compartment having communication with the carbid-compartment, a spring, an adjusting-screw for tensionin g the spring,and means for transmitting to the liquid the mechanical pressure of the spring, for effecting a feed of the liquid to the carbid. Y

3. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a compartment for carbid, a compartment for liquid having communication with the carbid-compartment, means forproducing mechanical pressure and a spring arranged to transmit the mechanical pressure to the body of liquid whereby the latter is fed to the carbid in a continuous flow, and means for controlling the liquid-inlet to the carbid.

4. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a compartment for carbid, a compartment for liquid having communication with the carbid-compartment, a piston arranged to act upon the body of liquid, a spring arranged to act upon the piston and a feed-screw arranged to act upon the spring.

5. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a compartment for carbid, a compartment for liquid having communication with the carbid-compartment, a piston arranged to act upon the body of the liquid, a spring arranged to act upon the piston and a feed-screw arranged to act upon the spring and means for closing the communication between the compartments.

G. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a lampbody provided with upper and lower compartments adapted to contain carbid and liquid respectively, a communicating passage connecting said compartments, a springpressed piston arranged in the lower part of the liquid-compartment adapted to act upon the body of liquid therein, a jet-nozzle communicatin g with the carbid-compartment and a valve for closing the communicating passage between the two compartments.

7. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a lampbodyprovided with upper and lower compartments adapted to contain carbid and liquid respectively, a communicating passage connecting said compartments, a springpressed piston arranged in the lower part of the liquid-compartment and adapted to act upon the body of liquid therein, a jet-nozzle communicating with the carbid-compartment, a rotary valve-plug arranged to control the passage in said jet-nozzle and a valve adapted to close the communicating passage between the carbid and liquid compartment operatively connected with said valve-plug whereby the valve will be closed simultaneously with the closing of the jet-nozzle.

8. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a lampbody provided with upper and lower compartments adapted to contain carbid and liquid respectively, a communicating passage connecting said compartments, a springpressed piston arranged in the lower part of the liquid-compartment and adapted to act upon the body of liquid therein, a jet-nozzle communicating with the carbid-compartment, a rotary valve-plug arranged to control the passage in said jet-nozzle, a valve adapted to close the communicating passage between the carbid and liquid compartment operatively connected with said valve-plug whereby the valve'will be closed simultaneously with the closing of the j et-nozzle and a filter arranged in the upper part of the carbid-receptacle through which the gas must pass in its passage to the jet-nozzle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of September, A. D, 1896.

CHARLES XV. BECK.

, Witnesses:

WILLIS D. SHAFER, ALBERT H. GRAVES.

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